A star-depleted clash in Minneapolis Wednesday night delivered maximum drama as Austin Reaves converted a buzzer-beating floater to lift the injury-ravaged Lakers past the Timberwolves 116-115 after Minnesota erased a 20-point deficit behind Julius Randle's fourth-quarter heroics.
A matchup between two Western Conference heavyweights in Minneapolis Wednesday night came down to a final possession despite early-season injuries stripping both rosters of their marquee talents, AS English reported. The contest between Los Angeles and Minnesota featured none of the superstars typically commanding attention, yet delivered a finish worthy of playoff intensity.
The Lakers traveled to Target Center without LeBron James and Luka Doncic while the Timberwolves competed minus Anthony Edwards, setting the stage for role players to seize expanded opportunities, according to AS English. Austin Reaves accepted that challenge for Los Angeles, though his offensive production started slowly as he prioritized distributing to teammates during the opening frame.
Reaves recorded eight points through the first quarter while orchestrating the Lakers' attack, but his scoring output would escalate throughout the night, AS English reported. His focus on facilitating proved effective as Los Angeles built momentum heading into the second period.
Jake LaRavia shouldered significant offensive responsibilities for the Lakers, accumulating 27 points with a particularly productive third quarter that helped establish a 20-point advantage, according to AS English. The margin appeared insurmountable entering the final period as Los Angeles controlled the tempo and executed efficiently on both ends.
Minnesota refused to concede despite the substantial deficit, mounting a furious rally behind the combined efforts of Bones Hyland and Julius Randle heading into the fourth quarter, AS English reported. The Timberwolves chipped away at the Lakers' cushion with aggressive attacking and improved defensive intensity.
Reaves matched his career-high 16 assists against Minnesota while demonstrating elite court vision throughout Wednesday's contest, AS English reported. Though he distributed effectively all evening, the critical moment demanded he shift from facilitator to scorer with the game hanging in the balance.
Randle completed the 20-point comeback by converting a driving layup with 10 seconds remaining to knot the score at 115, according to AS English. The dramatic turnaround appeared complete as the Timberwolves seized momentum and prepared for a potential overtime period.
Los Angeles called timeout to design a final possession, entrusting Reaves with the decisive opportunity against Minnesota's defense, AS English reported. The Lakers guard found himself isolated against Rudy Gobert in the paint as the clock wound toward zero.
Reaves attacked Gobert one-on-one, penetrating to the basket before elevating for a fading floater that dropped through as time expired, giving the Lakers a 116-115 victory, according to AS English. The game-winner capped a remarkable individual performance and salvaged a road win that appeared secure before Minnesota's fourth-quarter surge.
The Lakers hosted Portland at Crypto.com Arena in their previous contest, again competing without Doncic and James while depending on Reaves to maintain competitiveness, AS English reported. Reaves kept Los Angeles within striking distance through the early quarters, but Portland pulled away behind Deni Avdija's 25 points.
The Trail Blazers' defensive pressure forced 25 turnovers from the Lakers while holding Los Angeles to 25% shooting from three-point range in Tuesday's defeat, according to AS English. The loss dropped the Lakers to 2-2 on the young season and highlighted their vulnerability without two foundational stars.
Minnesota hosted Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Monday night in the first complete game without Edwards in the lineup, AS English reported. Jaden McDaniels paced the Timberwolves with 25 points while the home team led at halftime before Denver's second-half adjustments.
Jamal Murray exploded for 23 third-quarter points as part of his 43-point evening while Jokic registered a triple-double, leading the Nuggets to a 127-114 victory over Minnesota, according to AS English. The loss exposed the Timberwolves' struggles to generate consistent offense without their primary scorer available.
With James and Doncic sidelined, Reaves carries the offensive burden for Los Angeles through the early portion of the season, AS English reported. The guard scored a career-high 51 points two games prior against Sacramento and followed with 41 points in the next contest, demonstrating his capacity to function as a primary scoring option.
Reaves showcased his elevated role again Wednesday night, though the Timberwolves understood his increased responsibilities and schemed to limit his effectiveness, according to AS English. The question entering the game centered on whether Minnesota could contain one of the league's hottest players despite knowing Los Angeles would feature him prominently.
Julius Randle assumes expanded responsibilities without Edwards available for the Timberwolves, carrying the primary offensive load during his second season with Minnesota, AS English reported. The former Knicks forward entered Wednesday averaging 25 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.
Randle recognizes his importance to Minnesota's aspirations of advancing deep into the postseason and views Edwards' absence as an opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate co-star, according to AS English. The stretch without the team's leading scorer could prove valuable for Randle to demonstrate his capacity to shoulder primary offensive responsibilities.
The Lakers are managing a growing injury list through the season's opening weeks with James yet to appear in a game due to sciatica issues persisting since the preseason, AS English reported. Team doctors indicated James likely will not return until mid-November as the organization exercises caution with the veteran star.
Doncic was ruled out of last week's game against Sacramento and remained sidelined Wednesday with leg and finger injuries that are not considered serious long-term concerns, according to AS English. Los Angeles also competed without Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber as the injury report expanded beyond the two high-profile absences.
The Timberwolves face a minimum two-week absence for Edwards, who suffered a hamstring injury against Indiana last week, AS English reported. The injury removes Minnesota's most essential player from the rotation and forces role players to elevate their production.
Edwards represents the one player Minnesota needs on the floor consistently, making his hamstring injury particularly problematic for the Timberwolves' early-season ambitions, according to AS English. The burden falls on the remaining roster to maintain competitiveness until Edwards can return to action.
The NBA unveiled the structure for this year's Emirates Cup, dividing the league's 30 teams into six groups of five teams each, AS English reported. The tournament commences October 31 and features several high-profile rivalry matchups across the groups.
The Lakers and Mavericks will meet in Western Conference Group B while the Nuggets face the Warriors in Group C, according to AS English. The Eastern Conference features the Heat against the Knicks in Group C as the tournament promises compelling early-season competition.
The early Western Conference standings reveal one clear pattern with the defending champions starting 5-0 and establishing themselves as the conference powerhouse, AS English reported. The Lakers currently occupy seventh place while the Timberwolves sit eighth, positions that would relegate both teams to the play-in tournament.
Above Los Angeles and Minnesota sit the Spurs, Warriors, Nuggets, Jazz and Clippers in the current standings, according to AS English. The Rockets entered the season with elevated expectations but have stumbled to a 1-2 start through the opening week.
